Tata-group promoted AirAsia India on Wednesday appointed former IndiGo executive Sanjay Kumar as its chief operating officer (COO) with effect from December 3.

“We are thrilled to welcome Sanjay to the AirAsia India leadership team. He joins us at a time when the airline is in a growth momentum with an aim to venture forward in international operations,” AirAsia India chairman S Ramadorai said in a statement.

With more than 25 years of experience, Kumar will be responsible for overseeing the operations as well as the commercial functions at AirAsia India, the company said.

Kumar stepped down as chief commercial officer (CCO) of IndiGo in July this year. AirAsia India is 51:49 joint venture between Tata Sons and Malaysia-based AirAsia Berhad.

His appointment comes at a time when AirAsia India is facing a turbulent phase in the world's fastest-growing aviation market.

In June, the CBI registered a case of criminal conspiracy against AirAsia Group CEO Tony Fernandes, Bo Lingam, deputy group CEO, nominee director R Venkataramanan and AirAsia India "for paying a bribe to unknown public servants of the Government of India and others" while lobbying for an amendment in the aviation policy and trying to secure a licence to start overseas flights.

First Published:Nov 21, 2018 6:00 PM IST